Letter from Chancellor Robinson - MLK Day 2020
Dear Ram Family,
Every year, people across the country and around the world celebrate the birthday of the great Martin Luther King, Jr. He left an indelible mark on our nation that can never be erased. His message of peace, non-violence, and equality for all is as relevant today as it was more than five decades ago.
As a Civil Rights leader and social justice advocate, Dr. King called attention to the importance of service. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” As we reflect on his work, we must pause to consider the ways we can bring about change in our own communities. Winston-Salem State University’s motto — Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve. — codifies our belief that we have an individual and institutional responsibility to respond to injustices and work toward a more just and equitable future. Dr. King’s legacy is a call to action—an invitation to collective change-making.
Dr. King often spoke on college campuses because he believed young people could move the world forward. Our work here at Winston-Salem State University has never been more important. It is imperative that we prepare our students to be trailblazers, change-agents, and advocates for equity and inclusion. We must continue to foster an intellectual community that challenges our students and lays a framework for a lifetime of leadership and service. Every member of the Ram Family has the capacity and the responsibility to play a role in realizing Dr. King’s beautiful dream.
As we take a day to honor Dr. King, I encourage each of you to consider your part in making this a more just and equitable world. As he said, “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” Let us choose service and work together to transform our world.
Sincerely,
Elwood L. Robinson, Ph.D.
